Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 15:17:11 -0700
From: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Subject: GLAAD PRAISES SUPREME COURT DECISION STRIKING DOWN COMMUNICATIONS
DECENCY ACT
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Liz Tracey (212) 807-1700
Pager: (800) 946-4646, #1423527 (please include area code)
Email: tracey@glaad.org
Loren Javier (213) 658-6775
Email: javier@glaad.org
GLAAD PRAISES SUPREME COURT DECISION STRIKING DOWN COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT
New York, NY JUNE 26, 1997-The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
(GLAAD) today applauded the Supreme Court's decision to preserve free
speech on the Internet by finding the Communications Decency Act (CDA) in
violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Many feared that the
CDA would limit the rights of Internet users to freely discuss and explore
issues around sexual orientation.
The Communications Decency Act, which was passed as part of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, prohibited "patently offensive" or
"indecent" content on the Internet. Last June, a three judge panel ruled
the CDA unconstitutional, at which point the Department of Justice appealed
the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The Supreme Court's decision is a victory for all those who believe that
the Internet is a vital source of both information and community for
Americans," said Joan M. Garry, Executive Director of GLAAD. "For the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, the Internet has been
particularly important, both in advancing our visibility and as a
political, cultural and social tool. The Court's determination of the CDA
as unconstitutional is one which rejects silencing vibrant Internet
communities, and in the best traditions of free speech, allows for a
diversity of voices on what is a still evolving media form."
Writing for the majority, Justice John Paul Stevens said, "The CDA is a
content-based regulation of speech. The vagueness of such regulation raises
special First Amendment concerns because of its obvious chilling effect on
free speech." Loren Javier, Interactive Media Director for GLAAD,
commented: "Justice Stevens sums up the ambiguous and vague language of the
Communications Decency Act quite well. The law would have had dramatic
effects on a medium where the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community thrive. If small minded bigots were making decisions based on
hate regarding 'indecency' on the Internet, many lesbian and gay sites,
including GLAAD's, might have perished."
GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national
lesbian and gay media watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate,
and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based
on sexual orientation or identity.
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Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
glaad@glaad.org
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GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national
lesbian and gay multimedia watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair,
accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging
discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
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"GLAAD" and "Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation" are registered
trademarks of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Inc.